The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-27
THE HOUSE.
The River and Harbor Bill Engrossed and
Ready for Final Action.

The River and Hsrbor Bill Engrossed and
Ready for Final Action.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The Speaker laid be-
fore the house letter from the Secretary of
the Treasury submitting estimates of the Sec
rotary of the Interior of an appropriation to
meet the expenditures required by the Mexican
pension bill. Referred. The Secretary of the
Interior estimates that 81, 663. 104 will be re-
quired for the first yearly payment OF pensions,
and asks for appropriation Of 1921, 900 for an
increased clerical force.
The Senate fisheries bill having been laid be-
fore the House, on motion of Mr.. Belmont, of
New York, it was referred to the committee on
foreign affairs and leave granted that committee
to report at any time. THE granting of leave
to report at any time required unanimous con-
sent, but there was apparently no disposition on
the part of any member to make an objection
The right to report at any time carries with it
the right of immediate consideration, and the
bill will have the right of way in the House as
soon as IL has been passed upon by the commit
tee.
Mr. Bragg of Wisconsin. submitted the con-
ference report upon the army appropriation bill
and it was agreed to.
On motion of MIR. Catchngs, of Mississippi, a
bill was passed providing for holding terms OF
United States courts at Vicksburg-
Mr.. Payson. of Illinois. from the committee
on public lands, reported back the resolution re-
questng the Secretary of the Interior to proc ure
the opinion of the Attorney general whether an Y
further legislation is necessary to prevent the
unlawful fencing of public lands. Adopted.
In the morning hour, Mr.. Sadler, of Alabama,
on behalf of the committee private land
claims, called up the bill authorizing the exam
inatlon, approval and patenting of certain un-
confirmed land claims in Arkansas, Florida,
Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, and Missis-
sippi, south of the thirty-frst degree of
north latitude. The bill strenuously op
l -
much as it confded the decision of the validity
of claims to large tracts of land having origin
| in grants from the French, British Spanish
| government to registers and receivers of the
| land Offices, or the Commissioner of the General
| Land Office, without any right of appeal to the
courts. The morning hour expired without
| ton.
| After brief struggle for observation-disclosures
the pleuro pneumonia bill and the river and har-
Dor appropriation bill, the latter proved success
| full and the House went into committee of the
| whole-Mr. McMillen, of Tennessee in the chair
ON that measure
| Mr.. Nelson, of Minnesota. offered the follow
| ing amendment as substitute for the entire
| bill: THAT the sum of 81 500. 900 is hereby APP
| propriated out of any money in the treasury not
| otherwise appropriated which may be expended
| by n board of engineers, consisting of the Chief
of Engineers and tie four gineers senior in
| service. either for the repair, preservation con-
structon completion of such public i'm
| provements of rivers and harbors as shall. in
| their judgment, afford practical and important
| facilities by water for interstate commerce"
Mr.. Hepburn raised the point order that
| the substitute not in order until the orgna
bill had been considered by paragraphs
The Chair overrued the point of order on the
| ground that it came too late.
| After some further debate the substitute was
agreed to--140 to 27-and it was reported to the
| House.
The previous question was ordered-yeas 165
navs GA.
| Mr.. Dingley. of Maine rising to pariment
| airy question, inquired the effect Of refusal
on the part of the House. to agree to the substi
| tute.
The Speaker replied that the original bill
| would Their be before the house for action.
Mr. DlDgley suggested that not one line o
that bill had been considered IN COMMITTEES o
the whole.
The Speaker replied that that was a matte
| over which he had no jurisdiction He must b.
governed by the report of the committee of thu
ommendation that substitute be adopted.
would be ordering the original bill to a thir
reading
Mr. Willis hoped, In view OF this ruling tina
the substitute would be rejected.
The substitute was reiected-yeas 46: NAYS
176
The original bill was then ordered engrosse
and read the third time-yeas 143; nays. SIAN
the previous question ordered the final pass
age of the bill.
Mr.. Hepburn demanded the reading of the or
crossed copy, and the bill had not been er
crossed the House adjourned
|